Wednesday, June 22, 2022

The Price of Pandering

The Jackson City Council might have rushed things too much in the rush to rename Ellis Avenue for blues legend Bobby Rush.  The City Council passed an ordinance changing the name of the street to much applause over a year ago but the cheerleaders were rather quiet yesterday as the City Council found out the renaming will cost $1 million.  

City Engineer Robert Lee said it would cost only $15,000 to replace the street signs on Ellis Avenue.  However, there are a few signs on the interstate that would have to be replaced as well.   Unfortunately for Jackson, replacing the signs would also include replacing the sign trusses.  The trusses were built in the 1980's.  The sign trusses would have to meet current standards for wind loading, weight loading, and other factors, thus driving up the cost.  The new signs are too heavy for the current trusses. Mr. Lee said the fuel prices are driving up the price. 


The project was Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Bank's baby.  Mr. Banks tried to slough off the funding onto MDOT Central District Commissioner William Simmons.  City Attorney Tori Martin told the Council the city did not have the funds to pay for the replacements.  Mr. Banks said (1:50) Mr. Simmons' clerk called and said "They were willing to take on any burden necessary to make this happen."  It is not known if Mr. Simmons is aware of the million dollar cost. 

Ms. Martin asked if there was a written proposal or anything in writing with MDOT.  Mr. Banks replied Mr. Simmons said last year MDOT would cover the cost.  He repeatedly used his favorite word, "conversation", in the exchange.  

 

 

Kingfish note: One million dollars.  Through it all, not.one.single.person. questioned spending the damn money.  One millions dollars? No problem. No one suggested cancelling the project. Why should we? We'll just get Uncle Willie to pay for it.  Heaven forbid Uncle Willie should say yes.  Jackson roads are falling apart.  Bridges and roads in Central Mississippi sorely need fixing if not replacement AND WE ARE GOING TO WASTE ONE MILLION DAMN DOLLARS ON SOME STUPID ASS SIGNS????   These are not serious people. 

Good job, Jackson.  Don't think the legislature won't remember this one when you come begging for money next year.  Mr. Rush didn't deserve to have his good name dragged into this fiasco but blame the City Council.  Can Jackson do anything right? 

 


46 comments:

Anonymous said...


i don't know about Bobby Rush, but i sure as hell would not want my name on what is now Ellis Ave.

Anonymous said...

Never let it be said that Tori Martin doesn't know how to speak out of both sides of her mouth. Her new interest in being fiscally cautious with taxpayer funds is laughable.

Anonymous said...

Banks with an unforced error.

Since the existing trusses don't meet current standards for wind loading is MDOT inadvertently admitting those trusses may be unsafe during an extreme weather event?

Anonymous said...

KF would be delighted to spend the money if were Ellis Ave was being named after some boogie white boy who wrote some boring ass book he like to quote.

Clay Edwards said...

Oh for christ sake, every time I get behind something these guys do this happens.

Anonymous said...

A million buck! The people supplying the signs must be a friend of a Jackson official!

Anonymous said...

Only faux pas in Aaaron Banks recent actions on Council was not learning cost in advance.

An outdoor bronze statue downtown of Bobby Rush could be done with private money and commissioned for close to that amount.

Anonymous said...

That city issues edicts to curtail water usage, but they will spend one million on renaming another street ?

It will cost the US Postal Service way more than one million just to change all of the mailing addresses on Ellis Avenue.(Not to mention about four years of misplaced mail).

But as it's often said, Jacksonians elected these people.
So only they will have to endure the results.



Anonymous said...

Hey dude, it ain't Kingfish's fault you don't understand what you read.

Anonymous said...

If it is such a great honor in Jackson to have a street named after you, make the person who you change the name to pay for it.

Anonymous said...

VIRTUE SIGNALING! Jackistan version. No problem spending other people's money, right? It's the "sign" of the times.

Anonymous said...

514, read the ENTIRE statement, not just the easy words.


The trusses would have to be replaced because any new signs are bigger and heavier than the signs that are on the existing trusses.

Let me make it simplier - I'll try to use words with two or less syllables (oops, there was one). The signs that are there today were put up years ago. They are smaller. They are less heavy than the new sign would have to be. So the trusses are ok for the signs that are there now.

Got it now? Good. See if you can go back for the 3rd grade reading test again and pass it now.

Anonymous said...

Jackson is always changing the name of some street or something. Wonder how much they have spent over the years changing names? Probably more than they hav e spent on paving the streets.

Anonymous said...

So just change the signs on Ellis Avenue.

Anonymous said...

@5:14 - Negative. Trusses are designed for the load that is placed upon them. So, even if the standards have not changed, putting a heavier load than a truss was designed to handle may cause collapse.

It may be possible that the truss could efficiently handle this new load and still withstand the loads from the new wind requirement, but the engineer of record who designed the existing truss who could make that determination is likely out of the picture. No structural engineer will sign off on another’s work and assume the liability.

So, if COJ can’t get MDOT to agree to a sign overlay, they are going to have to hire someone to design and build new interstate trusses.

Anonymous said...

A public hearing on renaming Ellis Ave. was never held. Businesses never had the opportunity to tell the city council how much a street name change would cost them, their suppliers & contractors.

Where is the plan for communicating this change to the hundreds of city, state & federal Gencies that work with these businesses? Who's responsible for communicating these changes to Google Maps & all online sites that provide web maps? Where is the plan for implementing a new name?

And why was Ellis Ave. chosen? What connection does Bobby Rush have to Ellis Ave.? Why not choose another street to rename that would be less of a disruption & cost less to implement?

Anonymous said...

Wonder how much renaming the airport, twicet, cost?

Anonymous said...

Just change the road we are changing to something else that doesn’t need a highway sign. 100’s of them.

Anonymous said...

Old infrastructure still serving its original purpose NEVER fails, right fellas?

Still dealing with the bulging brain hernia @7:02 PM?

Anonymous said...

I hate how Jackson names about 1 or 2 blocks after a reverend or someone like that. It only confuses things
Just do a plaque or a statue. Geez.

County Cletus said...

You be mind blown if you only knew the issues it cause, for life, when it comes to mail etc.Just dedicate the street end on end TWO signs with Bobby’s name and your done. 2 grand.

Anonymous said...

So just change the signs on Ellis Avenue.

Thank you......that's the answer. Let MDOT work out the big signs...I have confidence in them.

Anonymous said...

7:02 If you want to lecture somebody about their reading skills, perhaps you shouldn't make up new words in your post. It might make 514 think maybe you should go back to third grade.

Anonymous said...

Hire a vehicle wrap company to make a sticker. Place said sticker on sign without adding any load. Geez people get an f'n grip. Take the 1,000,000 and fill some fucking potholes. This is comical.

Anonymous said...

" What connection does Bobby Rush have to Ellis Ave.? "

Quick answer ... none.

No doubt he's traveled that street many times.

Hell, he's probably even stopped to pee in the parking lot of the
old abandoned Employment Security Office at that
"Southport strip-mall"... at HWY 80 and Ellis Ave.



Anonymous said...

Letter heads change - check
Business cards change - check
Bank checks change - check
Driver licenses change - check
Vehicle registrations change - check
Insurance policies change - check
Other government documents change - check (dozens of them)
Maps - electronic and paper maps change - check
...
...
Tens of thousands of people would be inconvenienced, all for virtue signaling/pandering!

9:01 p.m. said...

"Hire a vehicle wrap company to make a sticker. Place said sticker on sign without adding any load. Geez people get an f'n grip. Take the 1,000,000 and fill some fucking potholes. This is comical."

Ding ding we have a WINNER!

HOWEVER, seems the simpler solution would be for the City Council to pass an Ordinance to NOT make Bobby Rush change his name to Bobby Ellis, so Chowke can veto it!

Anonymous said...

Clowns, ignorant, stupid clowns. Broke ass city and they are renaming streets! Lord have mercy!

Anonymous said...

8:47 is spot on. We do this on highways, interstates and bridges. No one has to go through the headache of changing addresses, etc., and nothing prevents a company from adding “Bobby Rush Memorial Avenue” to their letterhead. Heck, they might even be able to get private individuals/corporations to fund the signs.

Anonymous said...

Spending anything on stuff like this with the problems we have in this city is deeply offensive. How can anyone vote for someone who thought this was a good idea?

Anonymous said...

If he is so famous, and so rich, let Bobby Rush pay for the name change.

Anonymous said...

I like Bobby Rush but it's not like he was born and raised here. From what I understand he is 88 years old and has only lived here the past twenty years. Born in Louisiana and lived in Chicago for close to 50 years.

Anonymous said...

Canceling just one of the trips to Paris should free up $1M, right?

Anonymous said...

It's a no-brainer for people with brains which excludes the city council. Just make an "honorary" designation and put up a historic marker documenting his achievements. I know Bobby Rush would feel great about it. They could have a nice ceremony and eat cake and chicken wings and drink some punch while playing his music and save about a million dollars. Instead they make another mountain out of a molehill in a town full of mountains and potholes.

Anonymous said...

Can't these idiots pick another street to rename that doesn't connect to an interstate? Problem solved. I'm sure Mr. Rush doesn't give 2 piles of feces about which street they rename for him.

Kingfish said...

I dunno. I looked it up in old newspapers and Ellis Avenue is first mentioned in a 1923 CL. However, it was just a public notice for a right of way on the street.

Anonymous said...

Can't they hire one of the "urban artists" that are so good with spray paint to simply paint over the signs? Less expensive and creates and employment opportunity.

PittPanther - ACC Champs said...

Future Mayor Banks giving y'all a preview of his administration. "But he told me he could pay for it!"

It's easy to complain about a budget someone else presented. It's quite another thing to be responsible for generating that budget in the first place.

Anonymous said...

Not a good look Banks. Spend that money on something else more important than road signs...

Anonymous said...

I'd rather that money go to the police and water. Last night my camera caught 15 shots from an automatic in my neighborhood...again.
This city is ridiculous!!!

Anonymous said...

How anyone with the means to leave chose to stay in a city run by absolute moronic toddlers is incomprehensible.
But I will respect your choice and wish you well in your homestead of choice.

We all deserve to be happy and you guys picked these leaders.
So no shade. Just utter confusion.

Anonymous said...

Couldn’t they just rename Farrish Street a lot cheaper? It could be phase 14 of the new entertainment district they have been building since 1990…. :)

Anonymous said...

12:24 I do not understand how so many people can assume that because a city, state, or country is saddled with incompetent elected officials the voters wanted them. Sometimes your only choices are between an idiot and a jackass or many idiots and many jackasses. It happens a lot. Not just in Jackson. Jackson just can't afford it.

Anonymous said...

9:02 AM
So, no change?

Anonymous said...

1:45 PM
The voters always have a choice in the primaries. It's just that in locales like Jackson, the primary is the election.

Anonymous said...

Jackson is literally running out of water by the end of next week, garbage collection remains up in the air, violent crime has the city in economic isolation and the city leaders are considering burdening others with a street name change that would cost the city 1M, AND cost countless others who have to pay for changes to their addresses.

Perhaps after next week, the State's hand will be forced and have to do something about the Capitol City



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